Safety Doc's Safety Smarts: Construction site vehicle and pedestrian safety
Safety Doc's Safety Smarts is a monthly column offering safety managers and professionals information they can use as a safety toolbox talk or can include in written safety communications for employees.
By Bruce J. Schryver, Ph.D., CSP
Modern construction sites are a whirlwind of activity. Multiple trades and professions working to construct a building, a stadium or any large structure makes for a busy site. Add to the men, materials and tools the added exposure of moving equipment, and the potential for an accident increases greatly.
Accidents resulting from contact with moving equipment are usually severe. There is no such thing as a minor crushing injury if you are run over by a forklift, tractor, earthmover or grader. More often than not, the injuries are fatal. The machine always comes out on top when there are unscheduled interfaces between man and machine. But there is much that can be done to prevent such injuries.
The equipment operator
The equipment operator must be cognizant of the surroundings and activities in their operational area. If new to the site, the operator should have an overview of the site, and look closely to determine hazards on the site, and how those hazards will affect operation of their equipment. Blind corners, sharp turns, poorly compacted or wet earth, mud and snow have a great effect on the traction and performance of a vehicle, and must be taken into consideration before operation.
Changing conditions on the site must be anticipated and allowances made to assure operational safety will result. Heavy rains, especially after a dry spell, will result in water ponding. Same with rapidly melting snow. How deep is the water? Get off the vehicle and check it out before attempting to cross it. A washed out section of roadway can be under that standing water, and could cause loss of traction and stability, resulting in a tip over accident. Remember that earth roadways have little structural integrity, and are easily washed out. Even asphalt roadways can present the same conditions during and after heavy rains. The rule is: if you're not absolutely sure the terrain is safe, don't cross it!
If carrying a load, keep the load low and be sure you have adequate visibility. Move slowly to allow stopping if a person should walk in front of the vehicle. Sound the horn regularly to warn others of your approach. Stay on roads or specified routes and off walkways or pedestrian areas. When backing look to be sure the view is clear. Make certain backup alarms or other warning devices operate properly. If it's dark or the weather is inclement, be sure you turn on the lights to help you see and be seen. And, how about the warning beacon or strobe? Is it operating properly?
Stop the engine and remove the keys when you leave the vehicle. Failure to do so has been the cause of a number of serious accidents and fatalities. Unauthorized persons may be tempted to move the vehicle to another spot, or just "borrow" it for a few minutes. Removing the keys prevents these actions. Also, be sure to lock the vehicle at night and extended non-work periods to prevent theft.
Pedestrian tips
Many workers don't think so, but everyone who is not on moving equipment is a pedestrian. Unfortunately, pedestrians on work sites often do not look before walking across traffic areas, a sometimes fatal error. When carrying a load, be sure you have adequate visibility. Look both ways before crossing a vehicle use area. Pay attention to lights and horns and stay off roads unless crossing to the other side. Give moving equipment plenty of clearance.
If carrying a long or unwieldy load, it may be best to wait until the moving equipment passes before approaching the roadway. Vehicles striking the load can cause fatal injuries too. And remember vehicles cannot stop on a dime. The forklift with 10,000 pounds of material on it may be able to stop quickly, but the load may not stop. In that case, being struck by the load is just as deadly as being struck by the vehicle itself.
Workers should be seen when working in vehicle roadway areas. Blaze orange or yellow vests stand out against the background. Reflective or electro-luminescent panels or stripes on vests increase visibility during poor lighting conditions. When working in winter weather, remember to get vests in a larger size if necessary, to accommodate warmer clothing underneath. Hard hats with reflective trim also help increase visibility.
Persons who are not working on the project or directly involved in the construction phases should be kept away from the work areas. Pedestrian walkways or similar may be needed to direct the public around the site. If the site encroaches on sidewalks, alternate routes must be provided. Always separate pedestrians and motor vehicles by the greatest distance possible, or erect suitable barriers.
Roadways
Roadways for vehicle use should be clearly marked. While few will be paved during the construction phases of a project, the edges should be delineated at regular intervals with traffic cones or similar marking devices. Both pedestrians and equipment operators should be cognizant of these boundaries and respect them.
On large construction sites, flaggers may be necessary to control the flow of traffic. If you do use flaggers, be sure they are properly trained, and that they have one job only, flagging traffic.
Finally, there's the challenge of outside traffic on or near the site. Have a plan for vehicles entering and exiting the site. You may need to have a traffic control plan with barricades, cones and flashers to delineate the work site area. At minimum you will need someone to assure vehicles exiting and entering can do so safely. Be sure your traffic control plan is submitted to and accepted by the jurisdiction in which you are working. Big fines can be levied on traffic impediments when they result in major traffic problems or gridlock.
Vendors and catering trucks pose another hazard. They should have an area set aside where they can park safely. Delivery vehicles need to park in an area where they can be easily unloaded; often this will require them to be driven close to the structure. Be sure traffic control is appropriate and if necessary, position a flagger to direct traffic around the unloading operation.
This is just a small part of construction site safety. Every trade, every subcontractor and every person on the site needs to practice safety awareness to assure a safe completion of the project.
About the author: Bruce J. Schryver, Ph.D., CSP, CHCM, CHMM, CPSM, CHSP, has been in the safety and health field for over 30 years. He started out as a first responder with a rescue unit, was with the Coast Guard, and law enforcement before embarking on a career in occupational safety and health. He has been employed as director of safety for a 1700 employee steel fabricator, and as a loss control consultant, regional loss control manager and national loss control coordinator for a group of insurance companies. He joined the ICW Group in 1985 and is now vice president of loss control services as well as vice president of Municipal & Law Enforcement Services. Schryver holds a bachelors degree in occupational safety and health and a Masters and Doctorate in safety management. He is a Certified Safety Professional (CSP), a Certified Hazard Control Manager (CHCM), Certified Hazardous Materials Manager (CHMM), Certified Products Safety Manager (CPSM) and a Certified Healthcare Safety Professional (CHSP). In addition to being a Professional Member of the American Society of Safety Engineers, he is a member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers, National Safety Management Society and the California Conference of Arson Investigators. He is an instructor for the IIA Associate in Loss Control Management classes. (Return to top)
Subscribe to our free e-mail newsletter.